branko
New member
As I prepare trip from Adriatic to Malta this spring would You suggest me what are the best places to stay between Santa Maria di Leuca and Sicily and special question : Is Roccela Ionica convenient place for night stay?
South Italy ports - need advice!
- Thread starter branko
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hylass
New member
Roccela Ionica is a perfect place for nigh stay, we stay there more than one week during a severe strorm and the harbour is very well protected and IS FREE...
Gypsy
Member
I agree with Hylas, Rocella Ionica is very well protected and as of Sept last yr was still free. Even though the pontoons have taps and electricity outlets installed they are not operational however there are "service" water taps operational along the pontoons which can usually be reached by hoses most cruisers have or borrow additional length from a neighbour. Toilet and shower facilities near the bar/pizzeria are minimal but OK.
The approaches to the marina are prone to silting but I was there in a Bav44 with 1.95 draft in August 04 and had no problems. There is a bar which forms in line with the outer mole westwards some 300+ metres and then a shallow bank off the inner point of the outer mole (STB on entry). If approaching from the east, get the sails off aboutwell before you start your entry manouvres. Go past the entrance of the marina by at least 200-300m (about halfway to the wreck clearly visible in daylight on the beach) then turn intowards the beach. You will pass over the sandbar which may shallow to 3m then will deepen again. At this time you turn towards the entrance and you should be closer to the shore than the outer mole. Proceed with caution towards the entrance and as you get close to the port mole turn into the entrance and thus avoid the bar which forms off the STB point. If there is a sea running you could have waves breaking on this entry bar but by staying well to port until the last moment you will be fine.
There is really no other safe port in the area so Rocella is it unless you do an overnight to Sicily or Salina Ionica or Reggio Calabria. Salina was closed but I was told by a family who were there in August 04 that a new entry has been blasted through the outer mole and it is possible to anchor inside the harbour which provides good shelter.
The Rocella commune provides a mini-bus from the marina to the town during the summer. It is a very handy service if you need to get provisions. The walk up to the castle is interesting and a coffe in the local square near the railway station is always entertaining.
I sailed from Dubrovnik to Sicily last August so if you have any other queries I may be able to help. PM for more info if you prefer.
Ray
The approaches to the marina are prone to silting but I was there in a Bav44 with 1.95 draft in August 04 and had no problems. There is a bar which forms in line with the outer mole westwards some 300+ metres and then a shallow bank off the inner point of the outer mole (STB on entry). If approaching from the east, get the sails off aboutwell before you start your entry manouvres. Go past the entrance of the marina by at least 200-300m (about halfway to the wreck clearly visible in daylight on the beach) then turn intowards the beach. You will pass over the sandbar which may shallow to 3m then will deepen again. At this time you turn towards the entrance and you should be closer to the shore than the outer mole. Proceed with caution towards the entrance and as you get close to the port mole turn into the entrance and thus avoid the bar which forms off the STB point. If there is a sea running you could have waves breaking on this entry bar but by staying well to port until the last moment you will be fine.
There is really no other safe port in the area so Rocella is it unless you do an overnight to Sicily or Salina Ionica or Reggio Calabria. Salina was closed but I was told by a family who were there in August 04 that a new entry has been blasted through the outer mole and it is possible to anchor inside the harbour which provides good shelter.
The Rocella commune provides a mini-bus from the marina to the town during the summer. It is a very handy service if you need to get provisions. The walk up to the castle is interesting and a coffe in the local square near the railway station is always entertaining.
I sailed from Dubrovnik to Sicily last August so if you have any other queries I may be able to help. PM for more info if you prefer.
Ray
branko
New member
Thanks a lot. I have a few more questions if you have been there.
Siracusa - old north harbour or Grand harbour?
Is near Capo Pasero (Sicily) any convenient port?
Is it better to sleep in Otranto or Santa Maria di Leuca?
Siracusa - old north harbour or Grand harbour?
Is near Capo Pasero (Sicily) any convenient port?
Is it better to sleep in Otranto or Santa Maria di Leuca?
Gypsy
Member
Siracusa - We used the old port. There is a small "marina" there with floating pontoons. Water and electricity on the pontoons. Limited but OK shr/toilet ashore, very helpful young Ormeggitori who also run a scuba dive operation. Can't remember the price but not too high. Shelter is good and some boats winter there but I would imagine it may get a bit lively if there was a strong easterly. Some cruisers have reported sewerage smell in the summer but we had no problems in early June 2002.
In the main harbour you can tie up stern to the harbour wall but that had problems of fresh breezes and chop pushing boats back to the high wall and this meant they had to ensure they had their stern well off causing difficulties to get off/on the boat. It does have the advantage to being closer to the old town where all the restaurants are. Access to the quay may be limited now due to a new floating pontoon marina in the same area. When we were there in May 2002 htere were no toilets.
Capo Pasero - Don't know about the port/anchorage at Capo Pasero. We left Syracusa at dawn to attampt a daylight crossing to Malta but when we got past Capo Pasero the wind came "on the nose" with waves of 1-2m so we retired to Marzamemi a few miles back up the coast. It has a very simple pontoon marina with limited facilites but good shelter. The town is about 10mins walk but as Heikel reports it is like a ghost town. Still there is a minimarket and some local produce for supplies. Next day we had an early start and a very nice cruise to Malta with only about 2 hrs of motor use.
Otranto or S.M di L - My preference is Otranto with good shelter and lower prices. In the season S.M. di L is very busy and their charges are high because of their strategic position. It also suffered from a bit of surge coming throught the entrance as the wind came in from the S-SW. However it is a long haul from Otranto to Crotone so you may need to stop in S.M. di L anyway.
We also went up to Gallipoli which is a nice palce and an interesting old fortified town. There is a new "marina" in the main port to the north but no toilet/shrs last August. In good weather there are places to anchor off islands or in the large bay before the Port/township.
If you are interested in the marina/port charges let me know. I have them in my log but that is not with me as I write this.
Rgds
Ray
In the main harbour you can tie up stern to the harbour wall but that had problems of fresh breezes and chop pushing boats back to the high wall and this meant they had to ensure they had their stern well off causing difficulties to get off/on the boat. It does have the advantage to being closer to the old town where all the restaurants are. Access to the quay may be limited now due to a new floating pontoon marina in the same area. When we were there in May 2002 htere were no toilets.
Capo Pasero - Don't know about the port/anchorage at Capo Pasero. We left Syracusa at dawn to attampt a daylight crossing to Malta but when we got past Capo Pasero the wind came "on the nose" with waves of 1-2m so we retired to Marzamemi a few miles back up the coast. It has a very simple pontoon marina with limited facilites but good shelter. The town is about 10mins walk but as Heikel reports it is like a ghost town. Still there is a minimarket and some local produce for supplies. Next day we had an early start and a very nice cruise to Malta with only about 2 hrs of motor use.
Otranto or S.M di L - My preference is Otranto with good shelter and lower prices. In the season S.M. di L is very busy and their charges are high because of their strategic position. It also suffered from a bit of surge coming throught the entrance as the wind came in from the S-SW. However it is a long haul from Otranto to Crotone so you may need to stop in S.M. di L anyway.
We also went up to Gallipoli which is a nice palce and an interesting old fortified town. There is a new "marina" in the main port to the north but no toilet/shrs last August. In good weather there are places to anchor off islands or in the large bay before the Port/township.
If you are interested in the marina/port charges let me know. I have them in my log but that is not with me as I write this.
Rgds
Ray
branko
New member
Thanks a lot for very usable infos !
Best regards
Best regards
Windchase
New member
Rocella is great, but I would be worried about getting in with a stiff onshore wind. The marina in Syracusa grand harbour gets bumpy in strong S winds, as does the quay below Ortygia (the old town, well worth visiting). The marina has a fuelling pontoon - not that common round these parts. I've used the anchorage to the W of Capo Passero a couple of times - it's wide, shallow and bleak, but the shelter is OK from most directions but might be rolly if the winds blowing straight in from the S? (need to check direction all my charts on the boat...)
have fun
have fun